Hitch for mobile conveyor



Aug. 9, 1960 sQc. MOON 2,948,552

HITCH FOR MOBILE CONVEYOR Filed March 20, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 an M A 4(7) a P E In \P m (O (\l I III I 1 l N l I II T [I I l m n 1 I H l I H I8 mmvrok;

STERLING (lb 100w,-

Aug. 9, 1960 s. c. MOON HITCH FOR MOBILE CONVEYOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMarch 20, 1957 l! I l l I l l I l I I. [TLQIPF IR! mo W mC G W L E E T s5 HTT Y Aug. 9, 1960 S. C. MOON HITCH FOR MOBILE CONVEYOR 3 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed March 20, 1957 INVENTOR, 5TE'ELING C. MOON,

States F l a'tentedAu'g'. 9, 1960 2,943,552 HITCH FOR MOBILE CONVEYORFiled Mar. 20, 1957, Ser. No. 647,360 4 Claims. ((11.280-447) Theinstant inventionv relates to mobile conveyors, and

more particularly to a conveyor comprising a plurality of individualcars connected one to the other in a train and each having a conveyingmeans for moving material the length of the car and discharging thematerial to a subsequent car to be similarly. moved, and in whichadjacent cars comprise novelhitching means connecting the adjacent carsand permitting the cars to swing laterally relatively to each other toassume positions in a winding path.

It is the prime object of this invention to provide aconveyor comprising-a plurality of individual cars connected to each other in a train andincluding novel hitch means connecting adjacent cars, and permittingsaid cars to swing laterally relatively to each other to dispose thecars in laterally displaced positions relatively to each other in awinding path,

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a conveyorcomprising a plurality ofindividual cars connected to each other in atrain, and including novel hitch means connecting adjacent cars foradjustment'ofthe positions of the cars relatively to each other in anupright plane. a

It is a further object of the instant invention to-provide straining thecars to swing laterally relatively to each other to dispose the carsinlaterally displaced positions relatively to each other in a windingpath.

It is still another object of the instant invention to provide aconveyor comprising a plurality of individualcars connected to eachother in a train, and including novel hitch means connecting adjacentcars to swing laterally relatively to each other, and in which the carsare coupled to follow each other in'a winding path to be disposed inlaterally displaced positions relatively to each other.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novelfeatures and combinations vbeing set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Y

I Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the operation of a mobileconveyor embodying the instant invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan viewshowing portions of two adjacent cars of the conveyor embodying theinstant invention; Fig. 3 is an elevational view, partially in section,showing two adjacent cars of the mobile conveyor embodying theinstantinvention;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 44 in Fig. 3; I

Fig. 5 is a plan'view, partially in section, of two adjacent cars of themobile conveyor embodying the instant invention, showing the carsdisposed in laterally displaced positions relatively to each' other; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing two elements of the novel hitch ofthis invention This invention relates to a novel hitch means forconnecting adjacent cars of a mobile conveyor in which the cars areadapted to be connected one to the other in a train, and in which thecars are adapted to swinglaterally with respect to each other to assumelaterally displaced positions relatively to each other in a windingpath. Referring'to Fig. 1,. there is diagrammatically illustrated amobile conveyor 10 embodying the instant invention and comprising aplurality of individual cars 11 connected one to the other in a train.The mobile conveyor 10 is particularly adapted for use in miningoperations, in whichja continuous mining machine 12 is advanced intomining machine 12 as it advances into the face 13, and the, materialremoved from the face 13 is discharged onto the conveyor belt 15 of thefirst car' 11 in theconveyor 10. The conveyor belt 15 of the first car11 is adapted to move the material the length of the car 11," and todischarge the material onto the like conveyor belt 15 of the nextsucceeding car 11 in the train, and so on, until-the material reachesthe discharge boom 16 of the conveyor 10, which discharges the materialonto a main conveyor belt 17, which runs in the mine passage way 18 andremoves the material from the mine. 3

Referring now to Figs. 2-and 3 wherein the cars 11 of the mobileconveyor 10 are illustrated in greater detail, it is seen that each car11 comprises amain frame 20 formed with a material receiving end 21 anda material discharging end 22, 'Only the adjacent portions of two of thecars 11 are illustrated in the drawings, and it willbe understood thateach car 11 comprises a material receiving end 21 and a materialdischarging end 22, which in each case is of the same construction.

The conveyor belt 15 runs along the length of the car 11 and is trainedabout a tail pulley 23 at the material receiving end 2-1, and about ahead pulley 24 atthe material discharging end 22. i

The conveyor belt 15 runs from the material-receiving end 21 to thematerial discharging end 22 on a rising incline so that the conveyorbelt 15 at the material discharging end 22 is disposed above theconveyor belt.

15 at the material receiving end 21 of the next succeeding car 11,whereby the material falls off the conveyor belt 15 of one car onto theconveyor belt 15 of the next succeeding car. The material receiving end21 of each car 11 is formed with an apron 25 overlying the conveyor.belt -15 and having an opening 26 under which the conveyor belt 15 runs,with the material falling into the opening 26 and onto the conveyorvbelt 15 running there below, for removal of the material from thereceiving end 21 to the discharging end 22. It will be understood bythose skilled in the art that suitable drive means is provided on eachcar 11 for operating the conveyor belt 15 in the manner described.

Each of the. cars 11 is supported on two pairs of steerable wheels 19,disposed one pair at each end of the car 11, for moving the cars 11along a winding path in greater detail hereinafter.

includes individual power means for driving one pair of the wheels 19and for driving the conveyor belt 15, and not illustrated in thedrawings since it forms no part of the instant invention.

The wheels 19 at the material receiving end 21 of the car 11 are mountedon the opposite ends of a laterally extending axle 27 which is fixedrelatively to the. main frame 20 of the car 11. The individual wheels 19are secured to the opposite ends of the axle 27 by a vertical pin 28,which permits, the wheels 19 to be steered on the axes of the pin 28.The assembly of each of the wheels 19 on an end of the axle 27 includesa crank 29 to which there is pivotally secured one end of a steeringlink 30. The inboard ends of the steering links 30', at the longitudinalcenter of the car 11, are pivotally secured to a link 31, which issecured by a pin 32 to the axle 27. Thus by'oscillation of the link 31about the axis of the pin 32, the steering links 30 are caused tooperate the cranks 29 and thereby steer the wheels 19.

The wheels 19. at the material discharging end 22 of the car 11 aremounted on the opposite ends of an axle 33 which is secured to the mainframe 20 in a channel housing 34 by means of a longitudinally extendingpin 35. The axle 33 is thereby mounted for oscillation relatively to themain frame 20 about the axis of the pin 35. With the construction of theaxles 27, 33 as described herein, wherein the wheels 19 on the materialreceiving end 21 of the car 11 are mounted on a fixed axle 27, and thewheels 19 at the material discharging end 22 are mounted on anoscillatable axle 33, the car 11 is in effect supported on three pointsand will adjust to the uneven supporting surface normally found in themine, to support the car in a stable position.

The wheels 19 at the material discharging end 22 include steering meanslike that described in connection with the wheels 19 on the materialreceiving end 21, and is so indicated by like reference numerals in thedrawings. The links 31 for steering the wheels 19 on adjacent ends ofconnected cars 11 are coupled to each other by means of a telescopingrod 36, which comprises a hollow portion 37 and a complementally formedsolid portion 38, which is inesrtable into the hollow portion 37 and isadapted to slide relatively thereto as the cars 11 are steered or swungrelatively to each other. Each of the opposite ends of the rod 36 isconnected to the link 31 on the adjacent cars 11 by means of atransversely extending pin 39 which permits adjustment of the positionsof the adjacent cars 11 relatively to each other in an upright plane,such provision being necessary due to the uneven surface of the minefloor.

The main frame 20 at the discharging end 22 includes a transverselyextending frame member 45 formed with a,

pair of laterally spaced lugs 46 between which there is pivotallysecured a hitch link 47 by means of a transversely extending pin 48. Theopposite end of the hitch link '47 is formed with laterally spacedapertured arms 49 between which there is placed a hitch swivel 50. Thehitch swivel 50 is connected to the hitch link 47 by a pin 51 whichpermits adjustment of the positions of the hitch link 47 and the hitchswivel 50 in an upright plane, and thereby provides for adjustment ofthe positions of the adjacent cars 11 relatively to each other in anupright plane.

The hitch swivel 50 extends beyond the arms 49 of the hitch link 47, andis formed with a swivel portion 52 having laterally extending tongues 53on each side thereof which are formed on the circumference of a circlehaving as its center a point on the axis of a cylindrical bore 54 in theswivel portion 52 of the hitch swivel. Immediately behind the tongues 53on each side of the hitch swivel 50, there are formed inwardly oifsetsurfaces 56, also formed on the circumference of a circle having a pointon the axis of' the cylindrical bore 54 as its center,

this-circle being of smaller radius than the first mentioned circle. Thetop and bottom of the swivel portion 52 are 6- formed with flat surfaces55 formed on chords of the circles on which the tongues 53 and theinwardly offset surfaces 56 are formed.

A hitch clevis 60 is connected to the hitch swivel 50 and forms aconnecting means for the adjacent cars 11. The rear of the hitch clevis60 is formed with a pair of arcuate grooves 61 formed behind arcuateshoulders 62. The arcuate surfaces of the grooves 61 are complementallyformed with respect tothe arcuate surfaces of the tongues 53, and thearcuate surfaces of the shoulders 62 are similarly complementally formedwith respect to the arcuate inwardly oflset surfaces 56 behind thetongues 53 on the hitch swivel 50.

The tongues 53 and the inwardly offset surfaces 56 on the hitch swivel5t interlock with the grooves 61 and shoulders 62 on the hitch clevis60. The hitch clevis 60 also includes a rearwardly extending pilot pin63 which is seated in the bore 54 of the hitch swivel 50. The hitchswivel 50 and hitch clevis 60 may thereby rotate relatively to eachother, with the complementally formed interlocking portions thereofserving to guide such relative rotation about the longitudinallyextending axis of the pilot pin 63.

The vertical distance between the top and bottom flat surfaces 55 on theswivel portion 52 is less than the shortest lateral distancebetween theshoulders 62 on the hitch clevis 60, whereby the hitch swivel 50 andhitch clevis 60 may be assembled by rotating the parts degreesrelatively to each other and placing the swivel portion 52 in the spacebetween the grooves 61 and the shoulders 62 on the rear of the hitchclevis 6t and then rotating the parts 90 degrees relatively to eachother in the opposite direction until the hitch swivel 50 and the hitchclevis 60 are disposed relatively to each other as illustrated in Fig.6, with the exception that the elements 50, 60 will be interlocked. Thisconstruction of the hitch swivel 50 and the hitch clevis 60 permitsadjustment of the positions of the cars relatively to each other aboutthe longitudinal axis on which the hitch swivel 50 and hitch clevis 60rotate relatively to each other.

The front of the hitch clevis 60- is formed with a bottom plate 64- theopposite ends of which each supports a roller 65 rotatably mounted on afixed pin 67. The laterally spaced apart rollers 65 form a guide whichengages an arcuate track 68 on the adjacent car 11. The track 68 is ofan inverted channel form having its opposite ends secured to the mainframe 20 of the car 11 by suitable plate and screw means 69. At aposition centrally disposed with regard to the length of the track 68,there is provided a rearwardly extending pin 70 secured to the mainframe 20. The track 68 has secured thereto a boss 71 into which the pin70 is inserted for the purpose of providing additional support for thetrack 68. The clevis 60 includes a top plate 66 formed above the bottomplate 64 and adapted to overly the track 68 for the purpose ofmaintaining the track 68 in assembly with the hitch clevis 6t andeliminating vertical movement of the track 68 and the hitch clevis 60relatively to each other.

The track 68 is formed on the circumference of a circle having itscenter disposed between the adjacent cars 11, and the guide rollers 65cooperate with the track- 68 to constrain the adjacent cars 11 to swinglaterally relatively to each other in accordance with the arcuate pathdefined by the track 68. Since the steerable wheels 19- on the adjacentends of the cars 11 are coupled to each other by the rod 36, so that thewheels l9 on the adjacent cars 11 are steered together, the cars willfollow each other in a winding path through the mine, as illustrated inFig. l, and the guide rollers 65 in cooperation with the track 68 willconstrain the lateral swinging movement of the adjacent cars to maintainthe conveyors 15 of adjacent cars 11 in proper position relatively toeach other for discharge of material from one conveyor 15 to the other.The lateral swinging movement of the adjacent cars 11 is limited byangularly disposed abutment plates 72 formed on the main frame 20 ofeach car 11, one on each side of the car 11.

In accordance with this invention theretis provided a compact hitchstructure for connecting adjacent cars of the mobile conveyor. The novelhitch is disposed within the main frames of the adjacent cars so thatthese cars may be placed closely adjacent one another in the train ofcars, for efiicient operation in discharging material from the conveyorbelt of one car onto the conveyor belt of a succeeding car. The novelhitch means connects the cars for lateral swinging movement relativelyto each other so that the cars may be disposed in laterally displacedpositions relatively to each other in a winding path, and additionally,the hitch includes means providing for adjustment of the positions ofthe cars relatively to each other in an upright plane and about an axisextending longitudinally of the cars.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in thedetails and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, andapplicant therefore wishes not to be restricted to the preciseconstruction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of the invention, What itis desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an apparatus having at least two cars in a-train with an end of,one car disposed adjacent an end of another car, hitch means joining theadjacent ends of the cars one to the other in the train and permittingmovement of the cars relatively to each other, said hitch meanscomprising connecting means connected to one car and including alongitudinally extending pivot means for adjustment of the positions ofthe cars relatively to each other about the axis of said pivot means,said connecting means including a guide, an arcuate track on the othercar formed with a downwardly opening channel crosssection, said guideincluding means engaging the track within the channel cross-section atspaced points for guiding the movement of the adjacent ends of the carsrelatively to each other in accordance with the arcuate path defined bythe track and constraining the cars to swing laterally relatively toeach other, said guide also including an integral top plate overlyingthe track and supporting the connecting means on the track in planaralignment with the track.

2. In an apparatus having at least two cars in a train with an end ofone car disposed adjacent an end of another car, hitch means joining theadjacent ends of the cars one to the other in the train and permittingmovement of the cars relatively to each other, said hitch meanscomprising connecting means connected to one car and including a hitchswivel and a guide, said hitch swivel and said guide includinginterlocking portions joining the guide to the hitch swivel on alongitudinally extending axis, said interlocking portions includingcomplementally formed surfaces permitting rotation of the hitch swiveland the guide relatively to each other about said longitudinallyextending axis for adjustment of the positions of the cars relatively toeach other about said axis, an arcuate track on the other car formedwith a downwardly opening channel cross-section, said guide includingmeans engaging the track within the channel cross-section at spacedpoints for guiding the movement of the adjacent ends of the carsrelatively to each other in accordance with the arcuate path defined bythe track and constraining the cars to swing laterally relatively toeach other, said guide means also including an integral top plateoverlying the track and supporting the hitch swivel and the guide on thetrack in planar alignment with the track.

3. In an apparatus having at least two cars in a train with an end ofone car disposed adjacent an end of another car, hitch means joining theadjacent ends of the cars one to the other in the train and permittingmovement of the cars relatively to each other, said hitch meanscomprising a hitch link having one end pivotally connected to the onecar on a transversely extending axis for adjustment of the positions ofthe cars relatively to each other in an upright plane, connecting meanspivotally connected to the other end of the hitch link on a transverselyextending axis, said connecting means including a hitch swivel and aguide, said hitch swivel and said guide including interlocking portionsjoining the hitch swivel and the guide on a longitudinally extendingaxis, said interlocking portions being complementally formed witharcuate surfaces permitting rotation of the hitch swivel relatively tothe guide on said longitudinally extending axis for adjustment of thepositions of the cars relatively to each other about said longitudinallyextending axis, an arcuate track on the other car formed with adownwardly opening channel cross-section, said guide including meansengaging the track within the channel cross-section at spaced points forguiding the movement of the adjacent ends of the cars relatively to eachother in accordance with the arcuate path defined by the track andconstraining the cars to swing laterally relatively to each other, saidguide also including an integral top plate overlying the track andsupporting the hitch swivel and the guide on the track in planaralignment with the track.

4. In'an apparatus having at least two cars in a train with an end ofone car disposed adjacent an end of another car, hitch means joining theadjacent ends of the cars one to the other in the train and permittingmovement of the cars relatively to each other, said hitch meanscomprising connecting means connected to one car and including alongitudinally extending pivot means for adjustment of the positions ofthe cars relatively to each other about the axis of said pivot means,said connecting means including a guide, an arcuate track on the othercar disposed on the circumference of a circle and formed with adownwardly opening channel cross-section, said guide including spacedrollers engaging the track Within the channel cross-section and adaptedto ride along the track for guiding the movement of the adjacent ends ofthe cars relatively to each other in accordance with the arcuate pathdefined by the track and constraining the cars to swing laterallyrelatively to each other, said guide also including an integral topplate overlying the track and supporting the connecting means on thetrack in planar alignment with the track.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS MoonJuly 16, 1957

